Each meeting is different, as we try to help one another learn about the field of medicine in a fun and engaging manner. The following are some activities that you can expect to encounter.
Guest speakers are the primary source of important information. Whereas most of the regular meetings are organized and run by SFU undergrad students, the speakers provide the opportunity to gain first hand knowledge of medical school admissions, the medical school curriculum and the field of medicine itself.
Speakers have included medical students from various schools, residents, general practitioners, specialists, and other health care providers. Generally, there are around four to five guest speakers each semester.
One of the things many medical school interviewers ask about are current events. It is important for students to be aware of major issues and events that are taking place in the world around them. As a way of helping our members stay abreast with the news, we have a short current events segment at the start of each meeting.
Why should you volunteer to present current events at a meeting?
The Clinical Ethics segments of meetings are aimed at helping stimulate thought in students about ethical issues that may arise during their careers in the medical field and help them evaluate situations in which ethical questions might be raised.
What happens during the "Clincial Ethics" segment of a meeting?
A situation is described (see example below) and the members discuss the issues at hand in small groups and then present their ideas to the remainder of the club. Here it is also essential for students to develop the ability to present and discuss both sides of an given issue.
What are some examples of clinical ethics questions?
The best way to prepare for any interview is to think about responses to actual interview questions. This is why a segment of some regular meetings is devoted to discussion of interview questions. How are mock interviews held during a meeting?
A list of several interview questions is distributed to groups of five to ten members. Within the group, the questions are answered one at a time by all group members. This is an excellent way not only to practice answering questions, but also to get different views from other members that may not have occurred to everyone.
At other meetings, the members are divided into two separate groups, each of which receives a different list of interview questions. The two groups randomly match up and for a given time, one partner asks questions from his/her list, while the other practices responding. Then the roles are reversed. This is an excellent way of practicing responding on the spot.
What are examples of interview questions?
The object of the signs and symptoms segment of meetings is to familiarize the members with some common medical conditions and procedures. What happens during the "signs and symptoms" segment of a meeting?
Generally a series of symptoms is presented to the members followed by a short explanation of the physiological and anatomical significance of the ailment. This then allows for a brief description of the surgical steps taken to repair the problem. The aim is not to teach diagnosis and treatment, rather to provide a fundamental understanding of the condition involved.
What are some types of surgery that have been reviewed by the Pre-Med Society?